The first flag
used by the Confederate States was the "Stars and Bars". The Provisional
Congress of the Confederacy, which was in session in Montgomery, Alabama,
established a committee to find a flag to represent the new nation.
The First National flag design was credited to two men Nicola Marshall of
Montgomery, Alabama and Orren R. Smith of North Carolina. The flag was approved
in time for a scheduled flag raising on 4 March, the date Lincoln was to be
sworn into office as President of the United States. The blue field under went
changes as other southern states joined the Confederacy. It was never officially
adopted as the flag of the Confederacy by the full Congressional vote. Because
of its design and with it unfurled in battle, it look to much like the U.S.
Flag, and field commanders desired a different flag so as to know which were
enemy and Confederate units. This lead to the design and adoption by General
Beauregard of Louisiana, the flag that is known as "The Battle Flag".